Q: I am overweight and have a family history of back pain. Can you help me to avoid the suffering that my father dealt with for so many years when he was my age?
A: Chiropractic treatment has been proven effective in helping with lower back pain. But you can prevent that lower back problem from developing in the first place by following some tips that chiropractors recommend:
- Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes that have low heels.
- Maintain good posture. In other words, don’t slouch, either when sitting at your desk at work or when standing. If your work day involves sitting, switch positions frequently and get up and walk around, gently stretching muscles.
- Don’t make your back do the work when lifting. Use your legs, which have the most powerful muscle set in your body. Keep your back straight instead of bent forward during the lift.
- Stretch regularly, especially before you engage in a physically demanding activity like basketball or tennis. This does not have to be a “work out”. Just learn some of the basic stretches that will help you the most and do it often. It’s simple and makes you feel good.
- Keep your weight at a healthy level. Consult your primary care physician or your chiropractor about the right weight for your height and age. If this seems out of reach right now, then just start a basic change of some habits and in a few years, it won’t be so hard to achieve. It’s a marathon, not a sprint and you do it for life.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking reduces blood flow to extremities and to the lower spine. It can contribute to disc degeneration.
As mentioned above, if you have lower back pain, chiropractic treatment is effective. In the past 15 years, research shows it is undoubtedly the most effective way to manage lower back pain in most cases.
We all know many of these basic tips. They seem cliché’. Well, usually it’s a cliché for a reason… and these tips are no different. This simple advice can make all the difference from having a lifelong back issue or living pain free. Talk with a chiropractor about other ways you can avoid developing back pain and try to take a proactive approach if you are at risk.
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